Pneumatically-operated sleeve valve



March 22, 1960 R. H. WOLFF 2,929,605

PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED SLEEVE VALVE Filed Oct. 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 64 53 g 16 g 1 1 \fiuU 73 l I 50 0 48 IN V EN TOR.

R/CHARD H. WOLF F 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1954 FIG. 1A

INVQNZOK R/CHARD H. WOLF F United States Patent PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED SLEEVE VALVE Richard H. Wolfe, Maywood, N.J., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterhoro, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1954, Serial No. 459,788

1 Claim. (Cl. 251-63) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in air driven turbines, and it is particularly concerned with a system having as its general object the operation of the turbine at a constant speed rate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air driven turbine system which will not only operate at a constant speed rate but which will continue that speed rate without appreciable time lag, as it is constantly loaded and unloaded. I

The foregoing objects as Well as others are accomplished by novel and improved governing means that is quick.y responsive to variations in the speed of the turbine and is operable to quickly effect an increase or decrease in the turbine speed as may be required to hold the turbine to a constant rate.

A feature of the invention lies in the nature of the control means. This includes an air supply control valve connected to the turbine and a governor device operated by the turbine to vary the supply of air through the valve to the turbine accordingly as the speed of the governor increases or decreases.

The governing means is characterized by its quick response to increase the supply of air to the turbine when the latter is being loaded and to do so with a minimum of time lag whereby the constant speed rate of the turbine is continued. The response is also prompt in decreasing the pressure air supply to the turbine when the latter is unloaded. This feature of the invention makes it particularly useful as a means for powering an actuator surface control system where constant loading and unloading of the power drive takes place, such as in the case of its use with an aileron actuator unit.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

Figs. 1 and 1A comprise a view of the governed air driven turbine power drive system embodying the invention, some parts being sectioned to better illustrate the invention; and v Fig. 2 is a right-end view of the governor device.

' In describing the invention in further detail, reference is now directed to the drawings wherein there is disclosed an air driven turbine l, a valve member 2 that communicates pressure air from a supply source, not shown, to drive the turbine, and a governor 3 responsive to the speed of the turbine and operable to control the valve member to increase or decrease pressure air flow to the turbine as required.

The turbine illustrated is of the radial impulse type, supported on a drive shaft 4 in a volute housing 5. The housing is formed to guide pressure air received through an intake end 6 to a plurality of nozzles 7. The pressure air flows through the nozzles and radially attacks ice 7 the blades of the turbine, whereupon the latter rotates the drive shaft 4 on which it is mounted. The used pressure air exits axially through an exhaust 8. The pressure air supply is provided by a suitable source, which may be bleed air from the compressor unit of an associated aircraft. a

The valve member 2, through which pressure air is fed to the turbine, is embodied in an elongated housing 9 (Fig. 1A). The latter has an inlet 11 into one end. This inlet passage extends interiorly into the housing and at its inner portion encircles a cylindrical skirt wall 12 of the housing, which wall extends laterally into the inlet passage. The skirt provides a cylindrical chamber 14. The latter opens out at its right end at the terminus of the skirt 12 and there communicates with the inlet passage 11. The left opposite end of the skirt chamber 14 opens through to the outside of the housing. A plug 15 secured in proper manner to the housing covers this end of chamber 14. Valve 16 is adapted to seat at its right inner end upon an annular shoulder 18 formed about an opening 19 through a vane 21 of the housing. Opening 19 communicates with a passage 22 that provides an outlet from the housing. When valve member 16 is moved leftward from its seat, opening 19 communicates inlet passage 11 with the outlet passage 22. The outlet passage is connected in suitable manner as at 20 to the turbine intake end 6.

Cap 15 plugging the valve chamber has a boss 23 on its inner side extending a little way into the skirted chamber 14. The boss is of reduced diameter relative to the chamber and provides a clearance 24 around it, in which clearance sleeve valve 16 is adapted to slide when unseated. Fastened by bolts 17 to the underside of boss 23 is a circular plate 25. About the periphery of plate 25 is a lip 26 contacting the inner wall of sleeve valve 16. Over this lip the sleeve valve is adapted to ride. Axially extending from plate 25 is a tubular extension 27. Extension 27 opens out through the center of plate 25 at its left end, and it is closed over at its opposite free end by a reduced threaded extension 28. A disc plate 29 is axially retained between a shoulder 31 and a nut threaded onto extension 28. Disc plate 29 has a peripheral lip 32 over which the lower portion of sleeve valve 16 is adapted to ride. The space between plate 25 and plate 29 is divided off into compartments 33, 34 by a circular vane 35 which is integral with the interior wall of sleeve 16. Tubular member 27 extends closely through a hole axially of vane 35.

Threaded into the covering plug 15 is a pair of fittings 36 and 37. Fitting 36 has a passage through it which communicates, by way of a recess 30 in the underside of boss 23, with the tubular element 27. The latter communicates with compartment 34 through a plurality of radial ports 10. Fitting 37 has a passage through it which communicates through plug 15 and plate 25 with compartment 33. By this arrangement pressure air fed through fitting 36 to compartment 34 acts against the vane 35 to slide valve 16 leftward from its seat, whereupon pressure air flows from the inlet passage 11 to the outlet passage 22 to attack and rotate the turbine 1. On the other hand, pressure air fed through fitting 37 enters compartment 33 and acts against the opposite side of vane 35 to slide valve 16 toward its seat so as to restrict the flow of pressure air to the turbine.

By this arrangement, it is clear that by controlling the flow of pressure air through the fittings 36 and 37 the flow of pressure air attacking the turbine may be regulated and, as a consequence, the speed of the turbine controlled.

A third fitting 38 laterally through the valve housing provides a passage communicating with the inlet passage 11. This fitting is connected by a line 40 to a fitting 39 equal to that of the thickness of either land.

oft he ore-nuisances. This device acts to control the flow of pressure air throughfittings 36 and 37.

The governor mechanism is supported in the interior of a housing 42. The interior ofthe housing provides an elongated cylindrical chamber 43f iii' axial communication with alarger bodied chamber. Chamber 43' has an annular recess 45 in its wan; which communicates by fitting 39 and line with valve fitting'38. V A second v recess 46, parallel With the latter and spaced to the right of it, communicates by a fitting 41 and a line 47 with valve fitting 37. A third recess 48 pfarallel'with recess 45 and spaced to the left communicates ,by 'a fitting 49 and a line 51 with valve fitting 36'. The right end, por-' tion 52 of chamber 43 is suitably vented to the atmoto the left of recess 48, whereby the latter is normally blockedioif from the vented chamber 44. 7 By this arrange'ment recess 46 is normally blocked'off from recess j 45 and is in communication with the vented end of chamber Recess '48 is normally blocked off from the vented chamber 44 andis in communication with recess 45. The space separating one recess from the other is In this normal position of spool 53, pressure air entering inlet passage 11 fiows through valve fitting 38, governor fitting 39, recesses 45 and 48, and governor fitting 49, to valve fitting 36 and compartment 34 to move the valve sleeve 16 from its seat. valve 2 to operate the turbine.

Through centrifugal means operated by the turbine when the latter exceedsapredetermined speed, spool 53 is caused to moveits'lands so as to restrict the flow of pressure air to the turbine. To this end, the main chamber 44 of the governor device 3ris closed over at its outer end by 'a block 56: In the latter, one end of a spindle shaft 57 is axially supported in a bearing 59'for rotatable movement. A gear 64 is mounted fast upon a projecting end of the spindle to drive'the latter. Radially' eX- tending from shaft 57 within the large' bodied chamber 44 is a cross member 65 providing a forked arm 66 on opposite sides of the shaft. Between each forked arm is pivoted a. bellcrank 67. Arm 68 of the ibell'crank is weighted; the other bellcrank arm 63. extends radially inward between the forked arm and is'provided with a roller '69. A'slee've 71 'slidably s'plined on shaft 57 has a flange portion 72which limits against the forked arms 66 and over the rollers 69. The left end of spool 53 surrounds a thickened portion of sleeve 71 and is made fast thereto in suitable manner.

Surrounding shaft 57 is a coil spring 73 that limits i and to allow pressure air flow to attack and rotate the turbine wheel.

Rotation of the latter drives the governor spindle 57 through the gearing '50. As the speed of the turbine increases beyond a rated speed, the speed of the governor spindle 57 causes the'fiy weights 68 to pivot centrifugally outward. With this action, roller arms 63 slide sleeve 71- to the right along the spindle shaft, whereupon the lands of spool 53 are carried to cut off recess 45 from 48, and to unblock recess 46 for communication with recess 45. With this action air pressure flow through fitting 38 is diverted to recess 46 and ultimately through fitting 37 to compartment 33 of valve 2, whereupon valve member 16 is moved toward closed position and cuts down air flow to the turbine. In this action the air in the opposite compartment 34 cushions the movement of the valve and vents by way of fitting 36 to the vented chamber 44. When valve member 16 is moved toopen position, air in the other compartment 33 acts as a cushion atmosphere;

By this arrangement it can be seen how rotation; of

. the turbine below or abovea certain set speed would This allows pressure air flow through. V

upon a shoulder of sleeve 71 and is retained in a space between the sleeve and the inner 'wall of, the spool 53. A second stub sleeve is carried on [the shaft within the hollow' of the spool and'is'provided with'a flange against the'underside of which the opposite end of the coil spring limits; The otherend ofsh'aft 57 is carried for'rotatable movement'in a bearing cup plate 75 that coversthe outside end of chamber 43,; An adjusting nut 76 threaded on'sh aft 57 abuts against the end wall 'of' sleeve 70 and serves in adjusting'the tensioning of the coil spring 73.

Tension of'the'latter actsthrough sleeve 71 and the roller arms'69 to hold'the weighted arms 68' parallel with spindle shaft 57. The latter is 'powered'for' rotation by the turbine. through suitable 'gearin'gf50 that meshes with of fittings 49 and '36-, This 'operatstounseat valve 16 cause the valve sleeve 16 to oscillate back. and forth so as to hold the turbine shaft to a governed desired speed. The speed of the governor spindle, at which the bellcranks 66 startt'o pivot under action of the rov tating spindle, may be regulated by adjusting-thetension of the coil spring by means of nut 76.

The invention finds particular use where the turbine.

is employed in powering the actuator of an aileron unit in aircraft. In such a unit the turbine is continuously driven by pressure air supplied from the bleed airof a compressor unit of the craft, and, when required, is engaged through suitable means to drive the aileron unit. When the load of the actuator is applied to the turbine, the latter necessarily slows up; when the load is released, theilatter operates at increased speed. Through use of the invention, the turbine speed is held at constant rate.

This constant speed rate is :ontinued without appreciable time lag when the turbine is loaded and unloaded. Loading of the turbine will slow the'turbine down, but this is only momentary, the governor acting quickly tocontrol the air feed to the valve to increase the flow therethrough until the turbine again reachesits constant speed rate. Similarly, where the load is freed from the turbine,

' pressly understood that the invention is not limited there} to. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art. And his my intent,

therefore, to claim the invention not only in the form as shown and described, but also in all such forms. and modifications as may reasonably be construed to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim. 7

Iclaim: V g J l A main valve comprised of a housing including an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a vane wall' having. a circular opening which connects said passages; an annular recess in the-vane Wall around said openingpro viding a valve seat; said housing having a'circular skirt wall extending into said inlet passage toward said valve seat and providing a valve chamber; a plug member cooperating with the housing and exteriorly closingofi-v said valve chambensaid plug. member -havingja circular boss ex 'tendinginto said valve chamber, in spaced relation thereto; a circularvplate mounted on the face of said bossand having a tubular extension projecting inwardly; the inner'end ofsaid extension being closed and having,

a disc plate mounted thereon facing said circular plate; said disc plate being spaced from said valve seat and having its peripheral edge adjacent the end of said skirt wall; a sleeve valve sleeving said circular boss, said circular plate and said disc plate and contacting said valve seat; said sleeve valve having a partition wall across the interior of said sleeve valve to said extension and forming with said disc plate a first compartment and with said circular plate a second compartment; said sleeve valve being slidable in said valve chamber from said valve seat and over said plug boss to provide a flow path to said circular opening; said tubular extension having radial holes communicating said first compartment with the interior of said tubular extension; first passage means in said plug member connected to the interior of said tubular extension; second passage means in said plug member and said circular plate opening into said second compartment whereby pressure air supplied to said first compartment can slide said sleeve valve from said valve seat and over said boss and whereby pressure air supplied to said second compartment will reseat said sleeve valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Anderson Feb. 18. 1958 

